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The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership

SHIP: Better health together

SHIP is working to create healthier communities across Minnesota by expanding opportunities for active living, healthy eating and tobacco-free living.

Good health is created where we live, work, learn and play. Schools, businesses, apartment owners/managers, farmers, community groups, senior organizations, hospitals, clinics, planning entities, Chambers of Commerce, faith communities and many more partners are creating better health together through SHIP all across Minnesota.

There’s still more work to be done. For Minnesota to have the brightest future possible we need to eliminate health disparities, especially those experienced by people of color and American Indians.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show higher obesity rates in the African American, Latino and American Indian populations. In addition, many populations experiencing health inequities continue to use tobacco at high rates. For instance, commercial tobacco use is highest in American Indian populations.

SHIP is locally driven

SHIP, at its core, is a locally driven effort. Communities choose strategies that are based on the latest science and focused on making long-term, sustainable changes in schools and child care facilities, communities, workplaces and health care settings.

Chronic diseases are among the leading causes of death in Minnesota. SHIP works on preventing chronic diseases by strengthening the capacity of communities to create their own healthy futures.

How SHIP works

Healthy communities create opportunities for all Minnesotans to live longer, healthier lives.

Thanks to SHIP, communities are:

increasing access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, local corner stores, emergency food programs, mobile markets and other food retailers